Spain to Offer Rescue Training, Boats to Moroccan Services

Rabat – The Spanish cabinet will provide rescue training and boats to Morocco to stop undocumented migrants between the two countries.

Spanish media outlet El Diario quoted sources from the Spanish navy on Thursday, who said that the operation is part of a “cooperation project financed by the European Union,” to increase the “search and rescue capacity of Morocco.”

The strategy aims to help Morocco get undocumented immigrants back to their point of departure before reaching Spain.

The news outlet added that Morocco and Spain had a series of negotiations in recent months on how to stop undocumented migrants’ boats from reaching Spain.

The Spanish general director of the merchant navy, Benito Nunez, and former director of maritime rescue Ignacio Lopez discussed migration issues, emphasizing Spain’s intention to provide training and help to the Moroccan navy, according to the outlet.

Madrid has been Rabat’s most steadfast supporter at the EU. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called on the EU last year to give Morocco more funding.

Sanchez also visited Morocco in November 2018, his first official trip to Morocco. During the visit, Sanchez held several meetings with senior Moroccan officials to consolidate their collaborations, including their fight against undocumented migration.

A royal visit followed Sanchez’s political visit. In mid-February, the Spanish monarch King Felipe VI visited Morocco with his wife, Queen Letizia.